Prevents ear clamps from buckling

Abstract

Prevents ear clamps from buckling The present invention relates to a band clamp including a clamping band (10) having an outer band end (12) and an inner band end (14). The outer band end (12) includes at least one opening (16a-16c), an ear-shaped fastening structure (18) having two legs (30, 32) extending radially outward and a web (34) interconnecting the outer ends of the legs (30, 32), and a tongue receiving portion (20). The web (34) includes a recess (36) that prevents buckling of the inner band end (14) including at least one hook (22a-22c) and a tongue (28). In a pre-assembled configuration of the band clamp, the hook (22) engages with the opening (16a-16c) at the end of the outer clamping band (10), the tip of the tongue (28) engages with the tongue receiving portion (20), and the tongue (28) is configured to move into the tongue receiving portion when the clamp is tightened by narrowing the ear-shaped fastening structure (18). To reduce the risk of buckling, it is proposed that the inner band end (14) include a longitudinal rib (24) configured to be positioned under the recess (36) of the web (34) in the pre-assembled configuration, at least the end (24a) of the rib (24) having a height that continuously decreases toward the tongue (28), and / or that dots (26) protruding toward the outer band end (12) are provided on the shoulder of the inner band end (14).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a band clamp according to the preamble of claim 1. [Background technology]

[0002] The document U.S. Pat. No. 10,036,499 discloses an ear clamp configured to accommodate a tube by changing its size to seal the tube against an object inserted into the tube, where the ear clamp includes a clamping band having an ear-shaped fastening structure.

[0003] Further ear clamps are disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 3,235,925 and 4,222,155.

[0004] Band clamps of the claimed type are susceptible to so-called buckling, in that when the clamp is tightened, the portion of the inner band located directly below the ear-like fastening structure buckles rather than sliding under the outer band portion. To solve this problem, it is known to provide a recess in the web portion of the ear-like fastening structure, so that the convex inner back surface of the recess presses against the band portion when the band is tightened. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 10,036,499 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 3,235,925 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 4,222,155 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, while the indentations reduce the risk of buckling, they do not completely eliminate it. This is particularly true for medical clamps, which are degreased so that their surfaces have a higher coefficient of friction, which increases the force that pushes the band to buckle, and therefore the risk of buckling. Therefore, known solutions are not always satisfactory.

[0007] The present invention seeks to further reduce the risk of buckling in band clamps having ear-like fastening structures.

[0008] This problem is solved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to a band clamp including a clamping band having an outer band end and an inner band end, wherein the outer band end includes at least one opening, an ear-shaped fastening structure having two legs extending radially outward and a web interconnecting the outer ends of the legs, and a tongue receiving portion, the web including a recess for preventing buckling of the inner band end including at least one hook and a tongue, and in a pre-assembled configuration of the band clamp, the hook engages with the opening of the outer clamping band end and the tip of the tongue engages with the tongue receiving portion, and the tongue is configured to enter the tongue receiving portion when the clamp is tightened by narrowing the ear-shaped fastening structure.

[0010] It is proposed that the inner band end includes a longitudinal rib configured to be positioned under the recess of the web in the pre-assembled configuration, and that the height of at least the end of the rib continuously decreases toward the tongue. The rib has the dual effect of reinforcing the inner band portion having the rib and reducing friction of the outer band during the clamping operation, but the beginning of the rib risks forming a collision point that can cause buckling when the lower knee of one leg of the ear-shaped fastening structure moves beyond this point. The continuously decreasing height creates a slope that facilitates smooth sliding of the leg onto the rib.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the height of the ends of the ribs decreases linearly over a length that is at least twice the width of the ribs, and more preferably, the height of the ends of the ribs decreases linearly over a length that is at least one-third of the length of the ear-like fastening structure in the unclamped configuration.

[0012] It is further proposed that the inner band end has a shoulder where the width of the band decreases from the full band width to the reduced width of the tongue, and that the shoulder is provided with a dot protruding toward the outer band end, the center of the dot in the longitudinal direction of the band being set at a position where the width of the band is greater than the reduced width of the tongue. The dot forms a gap between the inner band end and the outer band end at the entrance to the tongue receiving section. This reduces friction, and the dot further reinforces the base of the tongue while reducing the risk of buckling.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal end of the rib opposite the rib end where the height decreases is configured to be located directly under one leg of the ear-shaped fastening structure in the unclamped configuration.

[0014] It is further proposed to degrease the clamping band. Surprisingly, it has been found that the improvements proposed by the inventors make it possible to avoid the problems associated with buckling, even if the band is degreased and the resulting coefficient of friction when closing the clamp is increased.

[0015] Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments and drawings. The entire specification, claims, and drawings disclose the features of the invention in specific embodiments and combinations. Those skilled in the art will also be able to consider the features individually and combine them into further combinations or subcombinations to adapt the invention defined in the claims to their needs or particular application. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] The drawings show: FIG. 1 shows a band clamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a pre-assembled, unclamped configuration; Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the ear-shaped fastening structure of the band clamp according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3a shows a top view of the dotted inner band end of the clamp according to Figs. 1 and 2; FIG. 3b shows a side view of the inner band end of the clamp according to FIGS. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] 1 and 2 show a band clamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] The band clamp is a degreased medical clamp and includes a clamping band 10 having an outer band end 12, an inner band end 14, and a band main body portion disposed between the outer band end 12 and the inner band end 14. The following structures are provided in order from the outer band end 12 to the inner band end 14: The outer band end 12 has three openings 16a, 16b, and 16c, an ear-shaped fastening structure 18, and a tongue receiving portion 20. The inner band end 14 has three hooks 22a, 22b, and 22c, a rib 24, a dot 26, and a tongue 28.

[0019] In the pre-assembled configuration of the band clamp as shown in Fig. 1, the hooks 22a-22c engage with the openings 16a-16c at the ends of the outer clamping band 10, and the tip of the tongue 28 engages in the tongue receiving portion 20, so that the tongue 28 moves into the tongue receiving portion 20 when the clamp is tightened, for example by narrowing the ear-shaped tightening structure 18 using a pincer tool.

[0020] The ear-shaped fastening structure 18 has two radially outwardly extending legs 30, 32 and a web 34 interconnecting the outer ends of the legs 30, 32, the web 34 including a recess 36 to prevent buckling.

[0021] The tongue receiving section 20 may be press-molded into the inner surface of the outer band end 12, or may be formed by a longitudinal slit (not shown) separating two side band strips from a central section, with a step 38 in the side band strips defining the entry point of the tongue receiving section 20 and a step 40 in the central section defining its termination point. The length of the tongue receiving section 20, i.e., the distance between the step 38 at the entry point and the step 40 in the central section, essentially corresponds to the length of the tongue 28.

[0022] In accordance with the present invention, the inner band end 14 includes a longitudinal rib 24 configured to be positioned below the recess 36 of the web 34 in the pre-assembled configuration, the height of the end 24a of the rib 24 decreasing continuously from a maximum height to zero toward the tongue 28.

[0023] More specifically, the end 24a of the rib 24 decreases linearly over a length corresponding to more than twice the width of the rib 24, more specifically over a length corresponding to between one-third and one-half the width of the ear-shaped clamping structure 18 in the unclamped configuration, where the width is measured from the inner surfaces of the legs 30, 32 and corresponds to the closing stroke of the band clamp.

[0024] The inner band end 14 includes a shoulder 42 that defines the base of the tongue 28 where the width of the band decreases from the full band width to the reduced width of the tongue 28. The shoulder is provided with a dot 26 that protrudes toward the outer band end 12, and the center of the dot 26 in the longitudinal direction of the band is set at the portion where the band width is greater than the reduced width of the tongue 28, as shown in more detail in the top view of Figure 3a and in Figure 3b.

[0025] In the unfastened configuration of FIG. 1, the longitudinal end of the rib 24 opposite the end 24a of the rib 24 where the height is reduced is positioned below the knee of the leg 30 of the ear-shaped fastening structure 18 (the leg 30 located on the opening 16a-16c side). On the other side of the ear-shaped fastening structure 18, the dot 26 is positioned below the knee of the other leg 32. Both the rib 24 and the dot 26 create a small gap between the outer band end 12 and the inner band end 14 on both sides of the ear-shaped fastening structure 18. During the closing process, this gap reduces friction, particularly at the shoulder of the tongue 28. This reduced friction prevents buckling of the band, particularly in the portion of the inner band located between the legs 30, 32 of the ear-shaped fastening structure 18. This anti-buckling effect is further enhanced by the reinforcing effect of the rib 24 in that area and by the inclined ramp at the end 24a.

[0026] When the clamp is tightened, the tongue 28 moves within the tongue receiving portion 20, and the knees of the legs 32 located on the tongue 28 side slide on the slopes of increasing height on the ends 24a of the ribs 24. The recesses 36 on the webs 34 of the ear-shaped fastening structures 18 come into contact with the ribs 24 and can prevent buckling of the band portion below the ear-shaped fastening structures 18, if such buckling occurs despite the additional measures described above to reduce friction.

[0027] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be applied to other types of clamps, for example, clamps having two recesses 36 on the web 34 of the ear-shaped fastening structure 18 and a longer closing stroke, or clamps. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide two ribs 24 and / or two dots 26 adjacent to each other across the width of the band. The uneven height structure of the recesses 36 can be combined with an uneven height profile of the ribs 24, with a deeper portion of the recess 36 paired with a shallower portion. In a further embodiment of the present invention, only the dots 26 at the base of the tongue 28 are included, and no ribs 24 below the ear-shaped fastening structure 18 are included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 10 Clamping Band 12 Outer band end 14 Inner band end 16 aperture 18 Ear-shaped fastening structure 20 Tongue storage area 22 Hook 24 Ribs 24a end 26 dots 28 Tan 30 Legs 32 Legs 34 Web 36 Recess 38 Step 40 Step 42 Shoulder

Claims

1. A band clamp including a clamping band (10) having an outer band end (12) and an inner band end (14), the outer band end (12) including at least one opening (16a-16c), an ear-shaped fastening structure (18) having two legs (30, 32) extending radially outward and a web (34) interconnecting the outer ends of the legs (30, 32), and a tongue receiving portion (20), the web (34) being adapted to hold the inner band including at least one hook (22a-22c) and a tongue (28). a recess (36) for preventing buckling of the end (14), wherein in a pre-assembled configuration of the band clamp, the at least one hook (22a-22c) engages with the at least one opening (16a-16c) in the end of the outer clamping band (10) and a tip of the tongue (28) engages with the tongue receiving portion (20), and the tongue (28) is configured to move into the tongue receiving portion when the clamp is tightened by narrowing the ear-shaped tightening structure (18), The inner band end (14) includes a longitudinal rib (24) configured to be positioned below the recess (36) of the web (34) in the pre-assembled configuration, and at least an end (24a) of the rib (24) has a height that continuously decreases toward the tongue (28). A band clamp characterized by:

2. 2. The band clamp of claim 1, The height of the end (24a) of the rib (24) decreases linearly over a length corresponding to at least twice the width of the rib (24). A band clamp characterized by:

3. 3. A band clamp according to claim 1 or 2, the height of the end (24a) of the rib (24) decreases linearly over a length corresponding to at least one-third of the length of the ear-like fastening structure (18) in an unclamped configuration; A band clamp characterized by:

4. 4. A band clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The inner band end (14) has a shoulder portion where the width of the band decreases from the full band width to the reduced width of the tongue (28), and the shoulder portion is provided with a dot (26) protruding toward the outer band end (12), and the center position of the dot (26) in the longitudinal direction of the band is set at a part where the width of the band is greater than the reduced width of the tongue (28). A band clamp characterized by:

5. 5. A band clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a longitudinal end of the rib (24) opposite the end (24a) of the rib (24) where the height is reduced is disposed under one of the legs (30, 32) of the ear-like fastening structure (18) in an unclamped configuration; A band clamp characterized by:

6. 6. A band clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The clamping band (10) is degreased. A band clamp characterized by:

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